SHEL OF A FIGHTBACK

Reds' turnaround delivers title blow to Saints

- PAUL O'HEHIR

SHELBOURNE were having a torrid time up front until their new defender Euclides Cabral took matters into his own hands by scoring with his first touch.

Tolka Park erupted after that 80th minute equaliser but it was only a precursor to events 10 minutes later when Paddy Barrett blew the roof off the place with a winner.

This was Shels first home win since June 5 - and you could see what it meant to them.

Cabral won the corner which Harry Wood whipped in for Barrett to head home into Dean Lyness' net, silencing a shell-shocked Saints support behind that Ballybough goal.

The former Saints defender certainly milked the celebrations having felt hard done by during his time at the club, which ended abruptly over the winter.

And he may well have ended St Pat's hopes of a title bid too, going into into the business end of the season as they now trail Shamrock Rovers by seven points.

You make your own luck in this game but until that remarkable finish against 10-men Saints, Shels had actually been making a meal of things.